Obituary of Norma Bernice Dunn

DUNN, Norma Bernice (nee Doan)
July 17, 1932 – Stony Beach, Saskatchewan
February 4, 2022 – Cochrane, Alberta

Norma Bernice Dunn passed away peacefully in Cochrane, Alberta at the age of 89.

Norma was predeceased by her husband, Paul, and is survived by her three children, Kelly Ann (Steve) Gross, Paul (Leslie) Dunn and Robert Dunn. She left four loving grandchildren, Stephanie Gross, Eric (Danica) Gross,  PJ Dunn and Kelsey Dunn as well as two great-grandchildren, Kennedy and Griffin Houston. She was a special aunt to Alexis Collinge, Lyall Smith and Rosanne Cole.

Norma was the daughter of Lyall and Dorothy Doan and grew up with her sister, Lila, on a grain farm in Stony Beach, Sk. She rode her horse, Blanche, to school and was close to extended family in the area all her life. Norma came by her love of agriculture honestly as her father was very active with the Regina Exhibition and imported purebred Percheron horses from France in the early 1900s, which he successfully showed at fairs as far away as Chicago and Toronto. 

She moved to Regina to attend Scott Collegiate High School and then worked as a pharmacy assistant at the Co-Op until she met her husband Paul, a geologist with Home Oil, on a blind date. They married in 1955 and moved to Calgary shortly thereafter where they raised their family.

Norma had an outgoing and engaging personality and enjoyed many life-long friendships over the years. She was an active volunteer with the United Way, Engineer’s Wives Club of Calgary, Theatre Calgary and the Calgary Stampede International Committee.  She also served as an elder with Grace Presbyterian Church for many years. 

Mom was affectionately known as Stormin’ Norma by her kids. As a grandmother she was a good listener to Eric who visited her often at The View, in Lethbridge. She gave free rein to Stephanie to play in her office and computer. Norma was very proud of PJ’s endeavours (whom she called Pablo) and introduced Kelsey to her love of the Maritimes with their “Thelma and Louise” trip east visiting potential Universities. Her great-grandchildren, Kennedy and Griffin, loved to take ice cream to their Nana and take her for rides in her wheelchair.  

After her kids were old enough to fend for themselves, Norma started working at the Stampede in various capacities and then went on to work for the Canadian Hereford Association.  Her entrepreneurial flair and agricultural background served her well thereafter as she prepared the annual sale catalogues for several established Polled Hereford breeders for many years in the 1970s.

Norma organized the World Hereford Conference in Banff in 1976 and in the ensuing years she was involved in organizing the 1981 World Chianina Congress, the 1984 World Percheron Congress and the 1986 World Sheep and Wool Congress.  In addition, she was the Secretary-Manager of the Alberta Canada All Breeds Association, a group promoting Alberta livestock internationally. She was involved in the annual Canadian Western Agribition in Regina for over 35 years and was honoured for promoting this trade show internationally.

Her husband, Paul, died in 1985 leaving her a widow but she kept very busy then with her Agri-Services business leading agricultural tours to many parts of the world including numerous trips to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Spain, Sweden and Russia. As well, she wrote many articles on different breeders and industry news for various agricultural magazines. She remained active with her Agri-Services business well into her late seventies.

The family wishes to thank Martha Hunsaker, Norma’s dear companion and loving friend for the past 6 years. As well, we’d like to express our sincere gratitude to the Bethany Cochrane staff on Unit 800 for their care and kindness to Mom. They have spoken with fondness of Norma’s feistiness and sense of humour and we cannot thank them enough in helping her to live in dignity in her brave battle with Alzheimer’s. 

A private family funeral service will be held at the Stony Beach Cemetery. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed here. If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Bethany Care Foundation, Cochrane, #100, 2915 – 26th Avenue S.E., Calgary, AB T2B 2W6 Telephone: (403) 210-4600, email: bcf@bethanycare.com. 

In living memory of Norma Dunn, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Cochrane, 369 Railway Street, Cochrane, AB T4C 2E2, Telephone: 403-932-4740.